A gutter of running water in front of a sit-down for hand-washing? I'm not buying it.

As soon as you sit down, your front hem drops precipitously close to the floor, and as men were wearing togae and women variations on chitons and stolae, I can't see this being convenient. You'd either trail your hem in the water, or have it piled up over your lap while bending down to rinse your paws. For rinsing sponges on sticks I'd believe more readily.

OH MY GOD DEATH BY TOILET SPONGE??? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!